An educational pack for schools charting the dramatic history of a Caribbean plantation.
I commend this pack very warmly. The materials for pupils are attractively illustrated and clearly written, and the activities and research projects which they suggest are imaginative and thoughtful, and reflect substantial professional expertise on the part of the authors. The material for teachers is informative, engaging and stimulating. — Robin Richardson, UK educator and consultant, and author of Daring To Be a Teacher and Inclusive Schools, Inclusive Society
The pack is a wonderful piece of work. It is beautifully written and perfectly balanced in revealing some of the horrors that went on there during the period of enslavement without overwhelming the reader and putting them off. The images in the pack are a delight and very appropriate for children as well as adults. They beautifully illustrate aspects of the writing yet exist firmly in their own right as strong images of Dominica’s history. — Paul Dash, Senior Lecturer in Educational Studies, Goldsmiths University of London
Little has been written about Dominica’s estates, many of them now lost to the bush or abandoned. Now, A Caribbean History – Hillsborough: A Plantation in Dominica tells the story of one of the island’s most important and historic estates. It is presented as an educational pack for the age group at the top of primary school and first years of secondary school – with 12 beautifully illustrated cards with research, questions and activities for students. The cards are supported by an extensively researched booklet for teachers. The pack is structured to be taught across the curriculum.
The story of Hillsborough is also a Caribbean history – for what happened at Hillsborough is typical of other estates in the region. This story embraces the main themes of Caribbean history: from sugar to tourism, from slavery to freedom, hurricanes and revolt. Importantly, Hillsborough also links with the industrial revolution in England for the Greg family, who owned Hillsborough for 150 years, were also the owners of Quarry Bank mill, near Manchester, one of the largest textile mills in England.
Kathy MacLean was born in Dominica. An educational consultant, she was head of the Ethnic Minority Achievement Unit for Wandsworth Council, London. She now works at the Institute of Education as does Karen Mears, who has worked in multicultural arts education for many years, and at the Horniman Museum, London. Polly Pattullo is the publisher of Papillote Press and a journalist. She lives in both London and Dominica.